Wal-Mart should be held accountable

Posted: Wednesday, October 03, 2007

We've read article after article about millions of imported toys containing toxic lead and dangerous magnets. Mattel has taken responsibility for the safety of its products, but Wal-Mart has to be held accountable as well.

As it stands, you can't trust that the toys Wal-Mart is selling you are safe. As the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart sets the standard for product safety - and by bullying companies like Mattel to produce toys and other products at bottom-dollar costs, it's pushing American companies into shady overseas operations.

In light of the recent toy recalls, it's not a stretch to draw a connection between Wal-Mart's pressure on its suppliers for low cost merchandise, the problems at these factories and the safety of these toys and other products.

I hope that Wal-Mart takes responsibility for this problem before more children's lives are put at risk.

Gee, aren't we just so lucky to have a Wal-Mart in our town. Hopefully we won't become like Ketchikan, with no local shops downtown anymore at all.